Structured dataset about schema markup implementation strategies and best practices for AI and voice assistant optimization.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Business Structure Database (BSD) contains a small number of variables for almost all business organisations in the UK. The BSD is derived primarily from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR), which is a live register of data collected by HM Revenue and Customs via VAT and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records. The IDBR data are complimented with data from ONS business surveys. If a business is liable for VAT (turnover exceeds the VAT threshold) and/or has at least one member of staff registered for the PAYE tax collection system, then the business will appear on the IDBR (and hence in the BSD). In 2004 it was estimated that the businesses listed on the IDBR accounted for almost 99 per cent of economic activity in the UK. Only very small businesses, such as the self-employed were not found on the IDBR.

The IDBR is frequently updated, and contains confidential information that cannot be accessed by non-civil servants without special permission. However, the ONS Virtual Micro-data Laboratory (VML) created and developed the BSD, which is a 'snapshot' in time of the IDBR, in order to provide a version of the IDBR for research use, taking full account of changes in ownership and restructuring of businesses. The 'snapshot' is taken around April, and the captured point-in-time data are supplied to the VML by the following September. The reporting period is generally the financial year. For example, the 2000 BSD file is produced in September 2000, using data captured from the IDBR in April 2000. The data will reflect the financial year of April 1999 to March 2000. However, the ONS may, during this time, update the IDBR with data on companies from its own business surveys, such as the Annual Business Survey (SN 7451).

The data are divided into 'enterprises' and 'local units'. An enterprise is the overall business organisation. A local unit is a 'plant', such as a factory, shop, branch, etc. In some cases, an enterprise will only have one local unit, and in other cases (such as a bank or supermarket), an enterprise will own many local units.

For each company, data are available on employment, turnover, foreign ownership, and industrial activity based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)92, SIC 2003 or SIC 2007. Year of 'birth' (company start-up date) and 'death' (termination date) are also included, as well as postcodes for both enterprises and their local units. Previously only pseudo-anonymised postcodes were available but now all postcodes are real.

The ONS is continually developing the BSD, and so researchers are strongly recommended to read all documentation pertaining to this dataset before using the data.

Linking to Other Business Studies
These data contain IDBR reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research.

Latest Edition Information
For the sixteenth edition (March 2024), data files and a variable catalogue document for 2023 have been added.

Main Topics:

The following variables are available for enterprises and local units:

• employment (and employees)
• turnover
• Standard Industrial Classification (1992, 2003 and 2007 classifications are available)
• legal status (e.g. sole proprietor, partnership, public corporation, non-profit organisation etc)
• foreign ownership
• birth (company start date)
• death (termination date of trading)
• various geographical variables
  

'Employment' includes business owners, whereas 'employees' measures the number of staff, excluding owners.

Observations for enterprises also include a variable for ownership if the enterprise is part of a large group of companies.

Local units have an additional ‘death code’ variable, which serves as an indicator as to why the plant closed (e.g. as a result of a merger). It should also be noted that there is no turnover information for individual plants. This is because the ONS does not collect financial information at the plant level, which is notoriously difficult, especially for manufacturing plants where often no financial transactions are processed.

The birth and death variables are particularly useful for research, although it should be noted that for businesses that began trading before 1973, their birth date will be set to 1973. This is the year that VAT was introduced in the UK, and hence the first point in time for VAT registration for these companies. Companies that began trading since 1973 have their ‘real’ date of birth listed.

Google Data for Market Intelligence, Business Validation & Lead Enrichment Google Data is one of the most valuable sources of location-based business intelligence available today. At Canaria, we’ve built a robust, scalable system for extracting, enriching, and delivering verified business data from Google Maps—turning raw location profiles into high-resolution, actionable insights.

Our Google Maps Company Profile Data includes structured metadata on businesses across the U.S., such as company names, standardized addresses, geographic coordinates, phone numbers, websites, business categories, open hours, diversity and ownership tags, star ratings, and detailed review distributions. Whether you're modeling a market, identifying leads, enriching a CRM, or evaluating risk, our Google Data gives your team an accurate, up-to-date view of business activity at the local level.

This dataset is updated daily and is fully customizable, allowing you to pull exactly what you need, whether you're targeting a specific geography, industry segment, review range, or open-hour window.

What Makes Canaria’s Google Data Unique? • Location Precision – Every business record is enriched with latitude/longitude, ZIP code, and Google Plus Code to ensure exact geolocation • Reputation Signals – Review tags, star ratings, and review counts are included to allow brand sentiment scoring and risk monitoring • Diversity & Ownership Tags – Capture public-facing declarations such as “women-owned” or “Asian-owned” for DEI, ESG, and compliance applications • Contact Readiness – Clean, standardized phone numbers and domains help teams route leads to sales, support, or customer success • Operational Visibility – Up-to-date open hours, categories, and branch information help validate which locations are active and when

Our data is built to be matched, integrated, and analyzed—and is trusted by clients in financial services, go-to-market strategy, HR tech, and analytics platforms.

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Key Use Cases for Google Maps Business Data Our clients leverage Google Data across a wide spectrum of industries and functions. Here are the top use cases:

Lead Scoring & Business Validation • Confirm the legitimacy and physical presence of potential customers, partners, or competitors using verified Google Data • Rank leads based on proximity, star ratings, review volume, or completeness of listing • Filter spammy or low-quality leads using negative review keywords and tag summaries • Validate ABM targets before outreach using enriched business details like phone, website, and hours

Location Intelligence & Market Mapping • Visualize company distributions across geographies using Google Maps coordinates and ZIPs • Understand market saturation, density, and white space across business categories • Identify underserved ZIP codes or local business deserts • Track presence and expansion across regional clusters and industry corridors

Company Risk & Brand Reputation Scoring • Monitor Google Maps reviews for sentiment signals such as “scam”, “spam”, “calls”, or service complaints • Detect risk-prone or underperforming locations using star rating distributions and review counts • Evaluate consistency of open hours, contact numbers, and categories for signs of listing accuracy or abandonment • Integrate risk flags into investment models, KYC/KYB platforms, or internal alerting systems

CRM & RevOps Enrichment • Enrich CRM or lead databases with phone numbers, web domains, physical addresses, and geolocation from Google Data • Use business category classification for segmentation and routing • Detect duplicates or outdated data by matching your records with the most current Google listing • Enable advanced workflows like field-based rep routing, localized campaign assignment, or automated ABM triggers

Business Intelligence & Strategic Planning • Build dashboards powered by Google Maps data, including business counts, category distributions, and review activity • Overlay business presence with population, workforce, or customer base for location planning • Benchmark performance across cities, regions, or market verticals • Track mobility and change by comparing past and current Google Maps metadata

DEI, ESG & Ownership Profiling • Identify minority-owned, women-owned, or other diversity-flagged companies using Google Data ownership attributes • Build datasets aligned with supplier diversity mandates or ESG investment strategies • Segment location insights by ownership type ...

Small business transactions and revenue data aggregated from several credit card processors, collected by Womply and compiled by Opportunity Insights. Transactions and revenue are reported based on the ZIP code where the business is located. Data provided for CT (FIPS code 9), MA (25), NJ (34), NY (36), and RI (44). Data notes from Opportunity Insights: Seasonally adjusted change since January 2020. Data is indexed in 2019 and 2020 as the change relative to the January index period. We then seasonally adjust by dividing year-over-year, which represents the difference between the change since January observed in 2020 compared to the change since January observed since 2019. We account for differences in the dates of federal holidays between 2019 and 2020 by shifting the 2019 reference data to align the holidays before performing the year-over-year division. Small businesses are defined as those with annual revenue below the Small Business Administration’s thresholds. Thresholds vary by 6 digit NAICS code ranging from a maximum number of employees between 100 to 1500 to be considered a small business depending on the industry. County-level and metro-level data and breakdowns by High/Middle/Low income ZIP codes have been temporarily removed since the August 21st 2020 update due to revisions in the structure of the raw data we receive. We hope to add them back to the OI Economic Tracker soon. More detailed documentation on Opportunity Insights data can be found here: https://github.com/OpportunityInsights/EconomicTracker/blob/main/docs/oi_tracker_data_documentation.pdf

Presents the number of enterprises (businesses) in the UK along with the turnover and employment in these enterprises. Source agency: Business, Innovation and Skills Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: SME Statistics

Small Business Project Management Software Market Outlook

The global market size for Small Business Project Management Software was valued at approximately $2.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around $6.1 billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.1% during the forecast period. This robust growth is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of digital tools to enhance efficiency and collaboration among small enterprises. The proliferation of cloud technology and the increasing need for remote work solutions also contribute significantly to the market's expansion.

One of the major growth factors for this market is the rising awareness among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) about the benefits of project management software. These tools provide a structured approach to project planning, execution, and monitoring, which is crucial for businesses aiming to optimize their resources and improve productivity. Moreover, the integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into project management software adds another layer of efficiency, enabling predictive analytics and automated workflows.

Another significant driver is the increasing need for real-time collaboration among team members, especially in a remote or hybrid work environment. Project management software platforms offer a centralized repository for project-related information, facilitating seamless communication and coordination among team members. This aspect is particularly beneficial for small businesses that often operate with limited resources but require high levels of organization and efficiency to remain competitive.

The affordability and scalability of modern project management software are also key factors contributing to market growth. Many software vendors offer tiered pricing models that allow small businesses to start with basic features and scale up as their needs grow, making these tools accessible to a wider range of enterprises. Additionally, the availability of free and open-source project management solutions provides an entry point for small businesses to adopt these technologies without substantial upfront investment.

Project Management Software has become an indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes, particularly small enterprises that need to manage their resources efficiently. These software solutions offer a range of features that help businesses streamline their operations, from task management and scheduling to resource allocation and budget tracking. By providing a centralized platform for managing projects, these tools enable teams to collaborate more effectively, reduce the risk of errors, and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. As the business landscape continues to evolve, the demand for robust project management solutions is expected to grow, driven by the need for greater efficiency and productivity.

Regionally, North America holds the largest share of the market due to the high penetration of digital technologies and a strong focus on operational efficiency among SMEs. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, driven by the rapid expansion of SMEs and increasing investments in digital infrastructure. Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa also show promising growth potential, supported by favorable government policies and increasing awareness about the benefits of project management software.

Deployment Type Analysis

The deployment type segment of the Small Business Project Management Software market is bifurcated into Cloud-Based and On-Premises solutions. Cloud-Based project management software is gaining significant traction due to its flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Small businesses, with their limited IT infrastructure and budget constraints, find cloud-based solutions particularly appealing. These solutions allow for easy access to project data from any location, which is a critical advantage in today's increasingly remote work environments. Furthermore, cloud-based platforms often come with regular updates and robust security features managed by the service provider, reducing the burden on small enterprises.

On the other hand, On-Premises deployment still holds relevance for businesses that require higher levels of data control and security. Industries dealing

Success.ai’s KYB (Know Your Business) Data for Businesses Worldwide provides a reliable dataset tailored to streamline compliance processes and enable businesses to connect with small business leaders across the major markets of the world. This dataset offers verified compliance details, firmographic data, and leadership profiles to help companies meet regulatory requirements, evaluate partnerships, and build relationships with small business owners.

With access to over 170 million verified professional profiles and 30 million company profiles, Success.ai ensures that your outreach and compliance initiatives are powered by accurate, continuously updated, and AI-validated data.

Supported by our Best Price Guarantee, this solution is an essential resource for businesses engaging with the Global business community.

Why Choose Success.ai’s KYB Data?

1. Verified Compliance and Business Data

   • Access verified registration details, compliance statuses, and ownership structures for small businesses across various industries.
   • AI-driven validation ensures 99% accuracy, minimizing errors and ensuring reliable business evaluations.

2. Comprehensive Coverage of Global Businesses

   • Includes profiles of small businesses from local service providers and independent retailers to tech startups and family-owned enterprises.
   • Gain insights into regional business trends, operational structures, and growth trajectories.

3. Continuously Updated Datasets

   • Real-time updates reflect changes in ownership, compliance statuses, operational details, and leadership roles.
   • Stay aligned with evolving market conditions and regulatory requirements.

4. Ethical and Compliant

   • Adheres to GDPR, CCPA, and other global data privacy regulations, ensuring responsible data use and legal compliance for your campaigns.

Data Highlights:

• 170M+ Verified Professional Profiles: Engage with small business owners, managing directors, and decision-makers across the Globe.
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Key Features of the Dataset:

1. KYB Compliance Profiles

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   • Identify verified businesses that meet your company’s partnership and compliance standards.

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   • Verify small businesses’ compliance with local, state, and federal regulations to ensure secure partnerships and transactions.
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Regional basic data for kind-of-activity unit according to Structural Business Statistics by region, industrial classification (NACE Rev. 2), observations and year

Local SEO Service Market Outlook

The global local SEO service market size was valued at approximately $5.1 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to reach $11.3 billion by 2032, exhibiting a robust CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period. This market growth is driven by the increasing importance of online visibility and presence for local businesses, as well as the escalating adoption of smartphones and internet services. As consumers increasingly rely on online searches to find local businesses, the demand for local SEO services is expected to surge, catalyzing market expansion.

One of the primary growth factors for the local SEO service market is the rising utilization of mobile devices and voice search technologies. With the advent of smartphones, more people are conducting local searches on their mobile devices, which necessitates businesses to optimize their online presence for mobile search. Furthermore, voice search technologies like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa have revolutionized the way consumers search for local information. This shift necessitates businesses to adapt their SEO strategies to remain competitive and visible in local searches. Consequently, the demand for specialized local SEO services is anticipated to rise significantly.

Another vital growth driver is the increasing recognition of the importance of online reviews and ratings. Local businesses are becoming increasingly aware that positive online reviews can significantly impact their reputation and customer acquisition. As a result, businesses are investing more in local SEO services to manage their online reputation effectively. These services help businesses monitor and respond to customer reviews, ensuring that their online presence reflects their commitment to customer satisfaction. This trend is particularly prevalent in service-oriented industries such as hospitality, healthcare, and legal services.

Moreover, the growing awareness among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) about the benefits of local SEO is contributing to market growth. SMEs are realizing that local SEO services can offer them a competitive advantage by enhancing their visibility in local search results. This increased visibility can lead to higher foot traffic, more inquiries, and ultimately, increased sales. As SMEs continue to adopt digital marketing strategies, the local SEO service market is expected to witness substantial growth. The affordability and effectiveness of local SEO make it an attractive option for SMEs looking to boost their online presence without incurring significant costs.

Regionally, North America dominates the local SEO service market, owing to the high concentration of tech-savvy businesses and the widespread adoption of digital marketing practices. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to exhibit the highest growth rate during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the rapid digital transformation in emerging economies such as India and China, coupled with the increasing penetration of internet services and smartphones. The burgeoning e-commerce sector in this region is also driving the demand for local SEO services, as businesses strive to enhance their online visibility and attract local customers.

Service Type Analysis

The local SEO service market is segmented by service type into On-Page SEO, Off-Page SEO, Technical SEO, Local Listings Management, and Others. On-Page SEO encompasses optimizing the content and structure of a website to improve its visibility in search engine results. This includes keyword optimization, meta tags, and content creation. The rising importance of high-quality content and user experience in search engine algorithms is driving the demand for On-Page SEO services. Businesses are increasingly seeking these services to ensure that their websites are optimized for relevant local search queries, thereby attracting more local customers.

Off-Page SEO, on the other hand, involves activities that take place outside the website but impact its search engine rankings. This includes link building, social media marketing, and online reputation management. The growing emphasis on building authoritative backlinks and engaging with customers on social media platforms is fueling the demand for Off-Page SEO services. Businesses are leveraging these services to establish a strong online presence and improve their search engine rankings. The increasing importance of online reviews and ratings in influencing consumer decisions is also boosting the demand for Off-Page SEO services.

Technical SEO focuses on optimi

■Restructuring grant Offering Page If you are interested in submitting your grant application, please visit the following URL: https://jigyou-saikouchiku.jp/

■ Purpose and Overview The Project aims to promote structural transformation of the Japanese economy by supporting the challenges of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and other countries that have the desire to undertake drastic business restructuring, such as entering new markets (Development of new fields and business transformation), changing businesses and industries, business restructuring, or returning to Japan, or expanding scale through these initiatives in order to respond to socioeconomic changes in the post-COVID-19 era. From 10 Public Offering, in addition to establishing the "Support Frame for Countermeasures against Inflation and Recovery and Revitalization" as support for businesses whose business conditions are still severe due to the novel coronavirus and high prices, the government will provide focused support for initiatives to open up a future society with an eye toward a post-coronavirus society. This includes establishing the "Industrial Structure Transformation Frame" as support for businesses in industries and business types that are in strong demand for business restructuring due to changes in the industrial structure, etc., the "Supply Chain Resilience Frame" as support for businesses that are promoting the return of parts manufactured overseas to Japan and are working to revitalize domestic supply chains and local industries (Manufacturing), and the "Growth Frame" that eliminates the requirement for a decrease in sales to support business restructuring in growth fields.

■ Eligibility Eligible recipients of grant grant for this project must be Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and small businesses that meet the requirements set forth in the Public Offering Guidelines. For more information on the requirements, see the Guidelines for Public Offering. * In the "Number of Employees" condition below, it is stated that there are no restrictions on the number of employees. However, since the number of employees is regulated by industry, please refer to the "Guidelines for Public Offering" for details.

■ Contact: < Business Reconstructiongrant Office Call Center > Inquiries about the Application Guidelines, etc. Reception hours: 9: 00~18:00 (excluding Sundays and national holidays) Telephone: < Navi Dial >0570-012-088

● Due to expected congestion, it may take some time to respond. Please check the Application Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions before making an inquiry.

Remarks ・ recruitment periods are subject to change. The application of ・ Business Reconstruction grant is not through J Grants but through the electronic application system. Please use the URL listed in "Reference URL"

■ Reference URL https://jigyou-saikouchiku-shinsei.jp/

A structured comparison of the best LMS platforms for small businesses, including pricing, features, and best use cases for each platform.

포털 유럽연합 데이터 Local kind-of-activity unit - Regional basic data for kind-of-activity unit according to Structural Business Statistics by region (county) and NACE Rev. 2. Year 2022

Abstract Purpose: We aim to understand how small business owners develop innovations. Theoretical framework: We adopt social cognitive theory to understand innovative activities in small businesses. We draw on Schumpeter’s work to understand how owners may develop innovations and how an owner-centered approach to innovation should take form. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a multiple case study in small businesses from different traditional sectors. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with the participants and we accessed data from social networks such as the Facebook and Instagram fan pages of the businesses. Findings: The results explain what drives business owners towards innovation and what affects the innovation structure of their businesses. These results are expressed through the antecedents of innovation that emerged from the field and may help in explaining the differences between innovative small businesses and non-innovative small businesses. Research Practical & Social implications: We developed an approach designed for studying innovation within the context and reality of small businesses. In order to contribute to the development of innovations in forgotten businesses, we have listed some recommendations for supporting agencies, government bodies, and researchers alike. Originality/value: Small business innovation is influenced by the owner’s propensity to recognize and act on opportunities. Therefore, the owner can guide the innovation activity in a small business and this needs to be considered by researchers.

Local and state government investment represents the total value of funds allocated by local and state governments for fixed assets such as structures, equipment and software. Data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and is measured in chained 2017 dollars.

Numbers of enterprises and local units produced from a snapshot of the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) taken on 8 March 2024.

China Incentive Proportion: Inclusive Small and Micro Business Loan Facility data was reported at 1.000 % in Sep 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.000 % for Jun 2024. China Incentive Proportion: Inclusive Small and Micro Business Loan Facility data is updated quarterly, averaging 1.000 % from Jun 2022 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.000 % in Mar 2023 and a record low of 1.000 % in Sep 2024. China Incentive Proportion: Inclusive Small and Micro Business Loan Facility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The People's Bank of China. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Money and Banking – Table CN.KA: Structural Monetary Policy Instruments.

China Lending: Balance: Inclusive Small and Micro Business Loan Facility data was reported at 65.000 RMB bn in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 61.500 RMB bn for Jun 2024. China Lending: Balance: Inclusive Small and Micro Business Loan Facility data is updated quarterly, averaging 44.800 RMB bn from Jun 2022 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 65.000 RMB bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 4.400 RMB bn in Jun 2022. China Lending: Balance: Inclusive Small and Micro Business Loan Facility data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The People's Bank of China. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Money and Banking – Table CN.KA: Structural Monetary Policy Instruments.

The small business health insurance market, valued at $1111.3 million in 2025, is projected to experience steady growth, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.0% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is driven by several key factors. The increasing number of small businesses necessitates comprehensive health insurance coverage for their employees, fostering demand. Furthermore, government initiatives promoting affordable healthcare access for small businesses and their employees are contributing to market expansion. Technological advancements, such as telehealth platforms and streamlined administrative processes, are also improving efficiency and accessibility within the sector. The market is segmented by funding type (self-funded, level-funded) and business size (0-10 employees, 10-50 employees), allowing insurers to tailor products to specific needs. Competition is fierce, with established players like UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, and Blue Cross Blue Shield vying for market share alongside emerging players like Sana and Oscar, who offer innovative approaches to coverage and customer experience. While regulatory changes and economic fluctuations pose potential restraints, the overall market outlook remains positive, indicating substantial growth opportunities throughout the forecast period. The market segmentation highlights distinct needs across business sizes and funding models. Self-funded plans, allowing businesses to manage their own risk pools, are gaining popularity among larger small businesses, while level-funded plans offer a predictable premium structure appealing to smaller businesses. Geographic variations in healthcare costs and regulatory environments also influence market dynamics. North America, with its robust healthcare infrastructure and significant small business population, holds a substantial market share. However, growth potential is also evident in regions like Asia-Pacific, driven by increasing entrepreneurial activity and rising disposable incomes. Future growth will depend on successfully navigating the complexities of healthcare reform, technological disruption, and evolving customer expectations. Competitive differentiation through innovative product offerings, superior customer service, and effective risk management will be critical for success in this dynamic market.

Abstract

The main objective of undertaking this survey of 2019 is to generate data that are statistically representative for urban businesses operating in the country with a fixed location; with the aim of bridging the information or data gaps those were created by the conflict on businesses in the country.

The specific objectives will be to:

• Obtain the spread of businesses by economic activity
• Determine the employment in businesses by sex
• Determine the ownership status of businesses
• Determine the location of businesses in the country
• Determine the age of businesses and status of computer use and ownership.
• Determine the cost and profit structure of businesses as well as the inventory
• Determine the perception of regulations and doing business
• Determine the impact of the conflict on businesses

Geographic coverage

Coverage of business establishments in the 12 most populated urban areas of South Sudan in 2019. Towns included are Aweil, Bor, Juba, Kuajok, Maridi, Nimule, Renk, Rumbek, Tonj, Torit, Wau and Yambio.

Analysis unit

Businesses

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The IBES 2019 generated the required Business Register for business establishments in South Sudan, which can be used for any business establishment survey. For enterprise surveys, an Establishment Censuses (EC) or business registries undertaken by a country at regular intervals generally provide the sampling frame, giving a count of enterprises and workers by broad industry group at the primary level of geographical units. In South Sudan there is no establishment census or useable business registry that has ever been undertaken, and in such circumstances, the listing of businesses/enterprises and workers by broad industry group in the concerned geographic areas was used as the only option. As it was done for the IBES 2010, the listing of all enterprises and workers (in formal and informal sectors) by broad industry group for the selected 12 major towns/cities that took place in June-July 2018 listed 13, 348 businesses that served as the sampling frame for the IBES 2019. This listing process collected minimum required information for sampling frame purposes, such as name and location of each business establishments, the main economic activity of the business in ISIC format, number of workers/employees, registration status, maintaining regular accounts or not and the year of establishment, among others.

Formal and Informal Sectors: The existing definition of formal business used in IBES 2010 as described above had limitations due to the fact that it did not consider the registration status with tax government agency (i.e. value added tax and/or income tax), and the status of keeping accounts, which was recommended and implemented in IBES 2019. The required information for the new definition of “formal sector” was also collected during the listing operation.

Using the information collected from the listing operation, about 55 percent of listed business establishments were formal irrespective of the employment size. However, when the employment size factor was considered, i.e. adding a third condition of having 6 or more employees (Medium and Large business establishments), only about 10.7 percent of business establishments were classified as “formal sector”. Given also the fact that the average number of employees per surveyed enterprises in 2010 was 2.7, and that about 58.7 percent of listed business establishments had 0-2 employees, it was highly important to have proper definition of Micro, Small, Medium and Large enterprises in terms of number of employees for sampling purposes. Based on the information of the IBES 2019 listing operation, table 3 describes the distribution of listed business establishments by different size of employment. It is observed that 13.8 percent of listed business establishments are classified as medium and large.

Sampling and stratification: The IBES 2019 sampling frame includes 13,348 business establishments from both formal and informal sectors based on the new definition. In order to improve the sampling efficiency for business surveys, it was important to stratify the business enterprises in the frame by size of employment, generally defined in terms of the total number of employees. Therefore, the frame was stratified by the following categories of employment size:

• 0-2 employees
• 3-5 employees
• 6-9 employees
• 10+ employees

The reasons of proposing these categories of employment size for stratification are that in developing countries, business environment is largely composed of informal sector where the majority of business establishments are micro and small in nature. For example, many business establishments are small shops in the neighborhood, and often owned by households, and most of the time, the family will employee 1 or 2 people to work in such shops. For business surveys, it is very important to stratify them under such small employment size to capture the reality on the ground. The same employment size category is also used to allow comparability with IBES 2010 survey. Given the important contribution of the medium and larger business enterprises to the value of production, capital investment, value added and other measures of the economy, and comparability with IBES 2010, it was important to include all the business establishments with 6 or more employees in the IBES 2019 sample with certainty (that is, with a probability of selection equal to 1). Therefore, there were 1,838 business establishments with 6 or more employees for all economic sectors in the sampling frame.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

The questionnaire is structured.

Response rate

The response rate for the IBES 2019 was 87 percent.

The data files contain data from interviews with Ugandan small business owners that are part of a randomized experiment evaluating the effect of loan contract structure on business performance. The aim of the project is to examine how alterations of the standard microfinance contract structure affect borrowing business owners' use of the loan and their business performance, measured in a variety of ways. The experiment was carried out in collaboration with the NGO BRAC Uganda and their Small Enterprise Lending (SEP) program that targets existing business owners. Beginning in 2014, we collaborated with the BRAC SEP program in 76 local branch offices in Central, Western, and Eastern Uganda. Every firm in the sample is a BRAC borrower in the catchment area of one of these branch offices, belonging to one of the business sectors we had pre-selected, that has been approved by BRAC credit officers and is eligible for a loan. Upon being eligible, firms are asked to participate in a Baseline survey. Once the survey is conducted with firms that gave their consent to participate, they are randomized into one of the treatment (and control) arms. Data was collected from clients in several waves: before assignment to a treatment or control group (Baseline), during the loan cycle (Diaries), and after completion of the loan (end-line). Each of these types of data are described in more detail in the metadata files User Guide and Readme.

We examine how key aspects of the most common form of financing-debt-may inhibit young firms' expansion. Starting a business entails learning and risk taking, implying that project returns to investment can start low but increase over time (in other words, be "back-loaded") or be uncertain. Also, indivisible start-up costs often require large investments. Meanwhile, standard debt contracts available for micro-entrepreneurs from the formal or semi-formal financial sectors of many developing countries (such as microfinance) stipulate a constant repayment stream and caps on the initial loan size. The interaction of such features of the loan contract and the firm's production technology, may distort investment toward inputs that involve less learning, less uncertainty, and smaller projects; hampering firm growth. To shed light on the extent to which these theoretical mechanisms limit the effectiveness of microloans, we plan to collaborate with BRAC Uganda's Small Enterprise Lending Program to study the effect of the credit terms on starting firms' input use, profits, and repayment performance. As such, our project contributes to the DFID-ESRC Growth Research Programme's focus on Finance and Growth in Low Income Countries. Small and medium-sized firms are the engines of the Ugandan economy, comprising over 90 % of the private sector and BRAC Uganda has been lending to such firms since 2008 through its Small Enterprise Lending Programme. The loans range from 2.5 million to 13 million Ugandan Shillings (630 to 3,300 GBP) and are repaid monthly with a maturity of 12 months at an annual interest rate of 25%. The research project will select, among firms applying for BRAC loans from mid-2014, a representative sample of 1600 firms to be part of a randomized experiment. In order to investigate whether standard contractual terms in microloans from formal or semi-formal sources are restrictive for firms that face indivisible costs and/or are characterized by backloaded or uncertain project returns, we will (randomly) implement the following interventions for different groups of firms by: (i) changing the repayment frequency to distinguish the effects of uncertain project returns from those of backloaded returns; (ii) offering subsidies to ease the purchase of indivisible goods; and by (iii) offering consultancy services to shorten the learning process about the use of certain inputs to alleviate problems of backloadedness. We will survey these firms at baseline and upon completion of the loan-cycle (1-year after) to measure the change in firms' production and profits. In addition, we will use detailed and high frequency firm data to trace how the financial structure, a firm's learning curve, or the ease with which an indivisible good is acquired affects the use of machines and labor and how this in turn impacts profits and repayment performance. The project will provide unique evidence on the constraints caused by the interaction of financial structure and technology use that complements the recent emphasis on access to finance.